Singapore, November 10: Four Indian-origin men were charged by a Singapore court on Saturday for lighting fireworks on Diwali. The four men were involved in three separate incidents — illegal fireworks in the housing estates of Yishun, Bukit Batok West and Joo Seng Road on Tuesday, the day Singaporeans celebrated Diwali. It must be noted that lighting of fireworks has been banned in Singapore since 1972. According to a report by PTI, A Hariprasanth, 18, Elvis Xavier Fernandez, 25, Jeevan Arjoon, 28, and Alagappan Singaram, 54, are accused of discharging dangerous fireworks.

The four men charged on Friday were each offered bail of SGD 5,000. The report informs that on Wednesday, two other Singaporean men of Indian-origin were charged over their alleged involvement in an illegal firework display in Little India on Diwali eve. The cases involving Hariprasanth and Singaram have been adjourned to November 30. Diwali 2018: Amid Ban on Selling Firecrackers, Delhi Police Seizes 3847.77 Kg of Crackers, 26 People Arrested for Selling Old Stock. 

According to the Court, Fernandez is said to have discharged a bundle of six “whistling fire sparkles” at Block 18 Joo Seng Road about three hours later. Officers arrested him on Thursday. The Court documents did not reveal how they obtained the fireworks.

In Singapore, the government started regulating the use of fireworks in 1968 when the practice of lighting celebratory fireworks became a serious public safety issue. A total ban was rolled out on August 1, 1972.

Offenders convicted of discharging dangerous fireworks can be jailed for up to two years and fined between SGD 2,000 and SGD 10,000. Police said that they have zero tolerance against acts that endanger the lives or safety of others as well as cause undue alarm to the public and will not hesitate to take action against those who blatantly disregard the law.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 10, 2018 05:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).